Now Kiss!

[unheiring]

Who: The Entire (Adult*) Population of the Grove
What: Spin the Bottle Round Three
When: Somewhere in Magic Month
Where: The Inn Lobby
Warnings: Magic will probably go haywire because what's funnier than your emotions spiking and making your windy magic go woosh

*Younger muses can set up their own Spin the Bottle behind the Inn or whatever. Be some punk little rebels I don't care, I'm not your dad.

After two months of terror, it's time for a little whimsy — or so Luca Aurelius says, at least. And since Ain is a perpetual bad influence on him, Luca defaults to the most menacing game he knows: spin the bottle.

The rules are simple, plop down in the middle of a circle and get comfortable. Or maybe you got roped into this by a friend and now you're trying to put on a brave face? Either way, it's time to wait: the bottle will land on you eventually, right?. At that point, the rules are simple: kiss!

You can be brave about it and lock lips, or something mildly more. Or if you're trying to play it cool, a kiss on the hand or cheek should suffice. Luca isn't really enforcing any strict rules. The bastard isn't even playing, what the hell.

(Or, to put it all simply and break the fourth wall: drop your character. Add a little description about their behavior/demeanor prior to the kiss, if you want. Then, wait for someone to tag you, while you do some tagging out of your own! Spinning the bottle is a mutual affair, after all. Just remember to take any escalations off comms and to your inboxes, you fucking menaces)

Hope you're ready to resolve some of that tension you've been ignoring!

Comments

[unheiring]

I will remind you that you did not know me as anything other than sullen, once.

[The thought makes him flush all the same. Had the state of his hurt truly been so obvious? He would have thought his mask was slightly more functional than all of that.]

I suppose I cannot complain that they are missing out. It means I get to keep you all for myself, does it not?

[A kiss to the cheek. Fight him!]

[sirensinger]

I know you pretty well now, though! I have seen you be things other than sullen! You were making some favorable steps in the direction of not-being-sullen the last time I saw you.

[ Oh, are they breaking the rules? River doesn't mind a little PDA – especially because he so rarely got the opportunity for it back in Renova. Even if they must be proper about it here, the fact he gets to kiss Luca in public at all... ]

You didn't spin the bottle again!

[unheiring]

I suppose I was. And now here we are.

[Two years improved, albeit in a staggered sort of way. Some part of him wonders how startling that must have been for River. Then again, there was evidence enough of his feelings on that matter, considering how their first meeting had gone.

In any case, Luca looks absolutely unrepentant as he grins smugly in River's direction.]

I am hosting the game. That means I can make the rules as I see fit.

[sirensinger]

Here we are, indeed. Playing a game of Spin the Bottle with a room full of—to me—relative strangers. And somehow, against all odds, I'm managing to almost feel relatively well-adjusted amidst the crowd here.

[ It isn't meant as mean as it might come across, and is decidedly hypocritical. They had had plenty of bumps in the earlier stages of their… whatever they could call it. Bloody courtship? The fact they meshed this well at this stage was hard-fought. It was difficult to think back on that, though, as he peers down at Luca. ]

Wow, Aurelius! Where's your sense of integrity?

[unheiring]

That's a good thing, right?

[Luca's smile softens, tempered in the slightest by their conversation from a few nights prior. Well-adjusted... normalcy, those are all things worth trying to achieve, weren't they?]

Oh, are you complaining? Because I can just as easily get up and find another lap to sit in, you know.

[sirensinger]

It’s a good thing. At least, it is right now. If that feeling holds weight the further into my time here I get I might start to feel concerned about the people here.

[ He loops his arms around Luca in the equivalent of a bear hug, even if the angle is awkward. ]

Uh-uh. You aren’t playing!

[unheiring]

I think you will find that some of the souls here are more like you than you think.

[But none could ever replace River. Which is precisely why Luca doesn't protest as he's tugged closer.

Even if a sound close to a giggle does escape him.]

Perhaps I want to play now! Maybe I have gotten the itch!

[sirensinger]

Eugh, that's almost worse. I can handle one of me just fine, but a half a dozen of me? Can you imagine? I think even you might find that hard to handle.

[ He releases Luca after a few moments of simply holding him. One eyebrow quirks. ]

If you really do want to, I won't stop you. I am trying to be on my best behavior, after all.

[unheiring]

[Indeed, the thought makes Luca grimace, teasingly though the expression ultimately is.]

On second thought, I think I am plenty content with the one I have, thank you.

[It's almost a let down, when River deigns to let go of him. He can't help the way he directs a pout toward the other man.]

Please. You and I both know I am plenty content here. Besides, I know you prefer me to have you to yourself. [There is, of course, one exception to that but.... they've both discussed that plenty by now.] I plan to respect that, thank you.

[sirensinger]

[ River bursts out laughing. At the very least, he makes a token effort to quiet it so it doesn't resound through the inn. ]

Wow, I see how it is! You couldn't even pretend to lie about being just as happy with only the one of me, because I'm perfect as is? You had to make it sound like I'm such a nuisance you couldn't stand more than one?

[ As if reading his mind through that pout alone, River bundles Luca up in his arms again. ]

Awww. You're gonna make me blush, respecting my feelings and all.

[unheiring]

[Luca is quick to shift into a scowl. He digs his elbow into River's ribs, but... remains just as content within his lap.]

You were the one that acted like it would be a miserable experience, River!

[He can't complain for too long, though, considering how easily he finds himself in his favorite spot. He tries to be sooo subtle as he nuzzles in.]

I am doing my best to learn how to properly respect my partners these days. A difficult task, I might add!